[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15319-15320]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     WELCOMING THE HONORABLE DONALD M. PAYNE, JR., TO THE HOUSE OF 
                            REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Smith) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I just want to say how happy I 
am, and the New Jersey delegation, and what a privilege it is to 
welcome Don Payne to the U.S. House of Representatives, a Member from 
the 10th Congressional District.
  Don is a former city councilman where he served in Newark as 
president of that council, a county freeholder. And of course he takes 
over after the very tragic passing of his dad, Don Payne, who all of us 
have worked with over the years. I personally, as chairman of the 
Africa Committee, Don before me, we worked side by side on issues 
related to Africa. Again, I will be very brief, but he takes over, of 
course, after the tragic passing of Don Payne, who all of us loved, 
admired and respected.
  I sat next to Don for years on the Foreign Affairs Committee. He was 
the chairman of Africa, I chaired it and do so today; and we worked 
side by side on malaria and a whole host of other very important issues 
relevant to the health and well-being of the people of Africa, global 
health, and human rights. So, Don, you have very big shoes to fill. I'm 
sure you'll do it, and it is a great pleasure.
  Members should know Don has been an activist on a number of issues, 
including Embracing Arms. He works very strongly on job creation in 
Newark, which has been very hard hit by the recession. So it's great to 
welcome you, Don. And, again, I look forward to serving with you in 
this Congress and the next.
  I yield to my friend and colleague, Frank Pallone.
  Mr. PALLONE. I want to thank my colleague for those remarks. And just 
very briefly, if I can say as a senior Member of the Democrats, Don, 
Jr. has excelled in his own right. As was mentioned, he's been a 
councilman in the city of Newark for a while. He has also been a county 
freeholder in Essex County, New Jersey. And I could go through the long 
list of accomplishments that he's made himself for the city of Newark 
and the other towns that he now represents in the congressional 
district.
  But I do have to say your father would be so proud. He's looking down 
today. And you must know, for all of you who loved his dad so much, 
that he is very much like his father in every respect in that he 
respects everyone. He has the sympathy--your father always talked about 
simpatico, the Italian sympathy, because he grew up in the Italian 
section of Newark, and that's something that's shared very much by Don 
as well. He will be someone that you will all learn to love the way you 
learned to love his father.
  Congratulations.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

                              {time}  1740

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and a privilege to be a Member 
of the U.S. House of Representatives and to represent the people of the 
10th Congressional District of the State of New Jersey.
  I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my wife, Beatrice, for 
being here, my three children, who did not come, my triplet children, 
who were the apple of my father's eye, Donald III, Jack, and Yvonne, 
for always supporting me and encouraging me. I could not have done this 
without you.
  I also want to thank my uncle, the former assemblyman William Payne, 
who gave my father his undying love,

[[Page 15320]]

guidance, and strong support his entire life. Without his 
encouragement, I would not be standing here today.
  Our Nation faces many challenges, both at home and abroad, but the 
most immediate concern for all of us is to help New Jersey recover from 
the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy. You have my word that I 
will continue to work every day to ensure that the 10th Congressional 
District of the State of New Jersey and the entire State receives all 
the Federal support we need until we reach full recovery.
  Nearly 2 years ago, my father was sworn into his 11th and final term 
in Congress. I look forward to continuing to build on his legacy and 
serving the people of the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey, 
the Nation, and the world. And finally, I look forward to working with 
all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
  For those of you that knew my father, I'd just like to end, and it'll 
probably be the last time I mention it. As I went through the campaign 
and was successful in my candidacy, after the campaign I had time to 
reflect on what all of this meant to me, and I realized that there were 
many parallels in our lives, and I'll just end with this.
  When my father was 8 years old, his mother died. My mother died when 
I was 4. He was first elected an Essex County freeholder. That was my 
first elected office. He then went on to the Newark Municipal Council 
in the city of Newark. That was my next elected office.
  He won his first time in Congress in the middle of his second term as 
a Newark municipal councilman. I'm in the middle of my second term as a 
Newark municipal councilman.
  And when he was sworn into Congress he was 54 years old. When I'm 
sworn in for the 113th Congress I will be 54 years old. We will both be 
fortunate and privileged to serve in the 112th Congress, and we have 
both been privileged to serve with President Obama.
  When his father died he was 77 years old, and he died on March 6. My 
father was 77 years old, and he died on March 6. So God has a plan for 
your life. And I think if I am half the man he was and the public 
servant, I'll consider myself a success.
  Thank you very much.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.

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